When it is in direct sunlight, things get pretty difficult to make out. But if it's in shadow, even on an otherwise sunny day it's quite viewable, in my experience. So you might need to shade the screen with your hand to be able to see everything.

Me too, I can't see anything when I'm in the sun with it. Who agrees that the case it comes with sucks if you like to have your unit protected, but at the same time, want to quickly change songs, and have to take it half way out of its case to do so? (even harder when you are carrying a huge binder trying not to drop the thing! It's like juggling)